Condenser



Aug. 4, 1931. L. s. cHADwlcK CONDENSER 4 Shee'cs--Sheetl l Filed April 27, 1929 INVENTOR y 4 BY 'wW-JK MM ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1.931..l l.. s. cHADwlcK 1,816,956

coNDENsER Filed April 27, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y /d' INVENTOR BY dw-W-MM ATTORNEY.)

A'ug; 4, 1931. s. cHADwlcK CONDENSER Filed April 27, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1931. s. CHADWICK' CONDENSER Filed April 27. 1929 4 Sheets-Shed'I 4 mwym LAM/1f ATTORNEYS PatentedAg.' 4, 1931 UNITED STATESj PATENT oir-'F1os LEE S. CHADWICK, F SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB 'I'O PERFECTION STOVE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CONDENSEB Application filed April 27,

This invention relates to improvements in condensers, and more particularly to a unique construction for devices of this kind that is especially suitable for use in refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption type. y

Among the objects comprehended by this invention are the provision of a device of the aforesaid character that is highly eiiicient; that is comparatively simple of construction and correspondingly easy and economical of production; that is very strong and durable; and wherein there is'a comparatively still body of cooling fluid and a body of cooling rfluid that may be caused to flow either occasionally or continually and which, according to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, is conducted in cooling relation to the still body. f l

Other objects are to provide, in refrigeration apparatus of the type aforesaid, a c'ondenser that is reliable and that is thoroughly safe in case of abnormall high internal pressure, the same being equlpped with blow-off device that allows the refrigerant gas to discharge, in the event its pressure exceeds a predetermined value, into the cooling liquid so that it will beV absorbed thereby and thus prevented from escaping into the `surroundao ing atmosphere.

Objects and advantages additional to the foregoing will become apparent as this description proceeds, `reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional front elevation of a refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption type incorporating the improved condenser; Fig. 2 1s a central vertical section,

through the cooling devicev or condenser on 40 a scale somewhat enlarged over that of Flg.

1, the plane of section being parallel to that of the front elevation; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is aV central vertical section through the device at right angles to the plane of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5of Fig. 4; and F1g.( i 1s a View, similar to Fig. 2, of a modlcation of the invention.

Inasmuch as the linvention is especially suitable for use in refrigeration apparatus y1() between a wall 11, that rises from the 192s. serial no. 358,468.

`enclosed by an insulated cabinet 2, sustained by a base 3 that is supported a suitable distance above the floor by legs 4. The cabinet 2 occupies only a part of the base,y and where the latter extends beyond one side of the cabinet it supports a suitable heating device or burner deslgnated generally by the refer ence numeral 5. This` heatln device or burner is located within a heatlng chamber 'edge of the base 3, and a plate 12, that also 'rises from the base in spaced relation to the adjacent side of the cabinet 2. Front and rear walls extend from the corresponding edges of the wall 11 to the cabinet, in a man- 70 ner readily understood by those skilled in 4 f the art, and the front wall is rovided with -a suitable opening through which access may be `had to the heatin device or burner 5. Thisforms no part o the present invention and further description and illustration are therefore deemed unnecessary.

A generator-absorber 15 is disposed Within the heating chamber 10 above the heating device or burner 5, and suspended within the upper portion of the refrigeration compartment 1 is a cooling unit or evaporator 16.

For a more detailed description of the construction and operation of refrigeration apparatus of the kind under discussion, reference may be had to the ap lication of David F. Keith, Serial No. 242,5 4, filed December 27, `1927. For the present purpose it will suiiice to say that during the heatin period, that'is, when the heating device or fburner 5 is in operation, the refrigerant liquor in the generator-absorber 15-and which is composed of a suitable absorbent, such as water, and a suitable refrigerant, such as ammonia, in properl proportions-boils, the vapors thereof rise through a conduit 18 into the condenser (later to be described) which preferably includes a dehydrator. The purpose of the dehydrator is to separate the condensed vapors of the absorbent from the vapors of 100 the refrigerant and to drain the former back.

into the generator-absorber while permitting the latter to pass on into the condenser where they are condensed and from where they gravitate, througha tube 19, `into the evaporator 16. The heating device or burner is in operation for only a small part of a complete cycle of operation of the apparatus, and as soon as said device or burner ceases to function the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 16 starts to evaporate and its vapors return from the evaporator to the generator-absorber through a conduit 20 and are absorbed by the liquor in the latter vessel. 21 denotes a Siphon through which residue liquid in the evaporator 16 is returned to the generatorabsorber during the first stages of each heating period while the pressure within the system is rising rapidly.

From the foregoing general description of vthe operation of the refrigeration apparatus,

the purpose and performance of the condenser willbe lmore readily understood.

Surmounting the cabinet 2, and shown asso arranged thereon as to be substantially central of the complete structure and so that it will overhang one side of the heating chamber 10, is a casing or enclosure 25, having a bottom wall 2 6'that is spaced a suitable distance above the top wall of the cabinet, and a top wall 27 that is provided with a central opening that is closed by a' removable Y cap 28, the same preferably being held within said opening by its own weight or by friction.

Located substantially centrally within the casing or enclosure 25 is a container or vessel 30 that is preferably spherical; and surrounding the same -in rather closely spaced relation thereto is a ,similar container or vessel 31, the space between the two constituting the condensing chamber designated 32. Cooling fluid is 'conducted to the lower portion of the container or vessel 30 through a conduit or pipe 35, and it flows out at the top through a conduit or pipe 36 that is shown as formed into a coil and as passing outthrough the rear wall of the casing or enclosure 25 above and to one side of where the pipe or conduit 35 enters the latter (see Fi s. 2 and 3).

ccupyi-ng the upper portion of the casing or enclosure 25, and entering the same at the rear and to one side, is a coiled pipe or conduit 18 that is a continuation of the previously mentioned conduit 18 which rises from the generator-absorber 15. It will be observed that the pipe or conduit 18a, from where it joins the vertical -portion designated 18 (Figs. 1 and 2), rises gradually to a point directly above the axis of the spherical Vessels 30, 31 and there abruptly descends, through a portion designated 18", and joins the top of the outer container or Vessel 31 in communication with the condensing chamber 32. At the junction of the conduit portions outer vessel or container 31 is va pipe or conduit 19a that is led out through the wall of the casing or enclosure 25 at the rear and to one side 'thereof where it is joined to the outer end of the previously mentioned conduit 19.

Shown as mounted upon one side of the outer vessel or container 31 is a ysuitable blow-off device 40 which permits the escape of the refrigerant from the condensing chamber 32 in case'the pressure within the system rises to an abnormally high or `dangerous value.

In the installation of the apparatus, .the pipes or conduits 35 and 36 are preferably connected in the cold water supplyv system of the building in which the apparatus is situated so that each time a .faucet in said system is opened it will cause a flow of cold water through the inner vessel or container l3() and through the coil of the pipe or conmerged in the. still body of cooling fluid in the casing or enclosure 2.5 and under the influence thereof the absorbent vapors, or a considerable percentage of them,- condense and, excepting for such as escape over the obstruction 18C, drain back through the conduit 18 to the generator-absorber,` while the refrigerant vapors descend through the portion 18b into the condensing chamber 32 between the vessels or containers 30 and 31 and, by contact with the chilled walls of said containers or vessels, are caused to condense and drain to the bottom of the chamber 32 from where they gravitate through the pipes 19a. and 19 to the evaporator 16. Under ordinary conditions the vessel or container 30 is kept cold by the occasional passage of fresh water therethrough, although in very warm Weather, orv in warm climates, the water may be caused to continually flow through the inner vessel or container, as by a special piping arrangement or by leaving a faucet open, this being especially advantageous during the heating period. The circulation of the relatively cool Water through the coil of the pipe Yor conduit 36 also absorbs heat from the subthat is set up Within said bodyl advanced by a thermal-Siphon circulation of liquid. As the liquid about the coil of t e pipe or conduit 36 becomes chilled it descends toward the bottom of the casing or enclosure and displaces the warmer liquid in that region, causing it to ascend where it, in turn, comes under the cooling influence of said coil.

In case the pressure within the system becomes abnormally high, the blow-off device 40 permits the escape of the refrigerant gas into the body of liquid within the casing or enclosure 25 and said gas is immediately absorbed bysaid liquid which prevents its escape into the atmosphere, although by reason of this condition, such a pressure may be created within the casing or enclosure, and the volume of liquid therein so increased, that the cover 28 will be forced off to vent the casing and permit the discharge of the excess liquid therefrom.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the upper end of the dehydratingl coil 18 joins a gradually descendin conduit 18d that is connected to the top of t e vessel or container 31 in communication with the condensing chamber 32. This part 18d may be termed the superheat-removing section of the conduit as it serves to lower the temperature of the relatively hot vapors before they reach the condensing chamber. In other respects this form of the invention is the same Yas that above described.

Having thus described my linvention, what I claim is:

1,. A condenser fr use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising a condensing chamber, means for maintaining a substantially stationary body of cooling fluid in contact with a part of the wall of said chamber, and means for circulating a cooling fluid in contact with another part of the wall of said chamber.

2. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising a. condensing chamber, a container surrounding said chamber and adapt l ed to contain a cooling fluid, a fluid conducting means within said chamber, and means for delivering a cooling fluid to said conducting means and for conveying it therefrom.

3. A condenser for use lin refrigeration I apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising an enclosure for a substantially stationary body of cooling fluid, and a secondenclosure through which cooling fluid is adapted to flow, the walls of said enclosures being so related as to define therebetween 4. A condenser forn use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising a chamber formed of two spherical shells one within the other, means for maintaining a substantially still body of cooling fluid in contact with one of the shells,

and means for circulating a cooling fluid in contact with the other shell.

5. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising a chamber formed of two spherical shells one Within the other, means for maintaining a substantially still body of cooling fluid in contact with the outer shell, and means for circulating a cooling fluid in contact with the inner shell.

6. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption' class, said condenser comprising two spherical shells, one Within the other, al dehydrating tube communicating with the space between the shells and leading therefrom 1for a part of its length in a downwardly inclined direction and arranged for communicative connection with the generator-absorber of 'the apparatus, means through which the space between the shells is adapted for connection with the evaporator so as to drain into the same, means for conducting cooling water into and out of the inner shell,

other, the space between the shells being in communication with the lower end of the second tube, said space being arranged for communicative connection with the evaporator so as to drain into the same, means for conducting a cooling fluid into and out of the innershell, and a casing around the outer shell and around the aforesaid tubes and adapted to contain a body of cooling fluid.

8. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption class, said condenser comprising a container for a body of cooling fluid, a gradually ascending dehydrating conduit section and a gradually descending superheat-removing conduit section located in the upper portion of the container, and a condensing unit lo cated 1n the lower yport1on of the container, said conduit'sectlons and umt intercommumveating and being submerged in the cooling fluid.

9. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption class, said condenser comprising a container for a body of cooling fluid, a dehydrating and superheat-removing section located in the upper portion of the container and a condenslng section locatedin the lower portion of the container, both sections being submerged in the cooling fluid, and a blow-ofil device in com.- munication with the interior of the system of the apparatus and submerged in the cooling Huid.

l0. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for a body of cooling fluid, a container. disposed therein and through which acooling fluid is adapted to flow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting av condensing chamber,and means for delivering to said chamber the gas to be condensed and for conveying therefrom the resultant condensate.

11. A condenser 'for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for a body of cooling fluid,a container disposed therein and through which a cooling fluid is adapted to flow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the "first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting a condensing chamber, a conduit coiled within the enclosure and connected to the second container for communication with the condensing chamber and I through which the gas to be co-ndensed enters said chamber, and means for conveying the resultant condensatel from the condensing chamber.

12. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure Yfor a body of cooling fluid, a container disposed therein and through which a cooling fluid is adapted toflow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting a Ycondensing chamber, and inlet and outlet means commiinicating with the condensing chamber, one of said means consisting of a conduit a material part -r of whose length is disposed within said enclosure for submergence in the body of cooling fluid.

13. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same compiising, in combination, an enclosure for a body of cooling fluid, a container disposed therein, inlet and outlet means communicating with said container so that a cooling fluid may be caused to flow therethrough, one of said means consisting of a conduit a material portion of whose length is disposed within the enclosure for submergence in the body of cooling fluid, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting a condensing charnloer, and means for delivering to said chamber the gasto be condensed and for conveying therefrom the resultant condensate.

14. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for a body of cooling fluid, a container disposed therein through which a cooling fluid is Vadapted to flow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned conx tainer, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting a condensingchamber, a conduit entering the enclosure and gradually rising therein to a point from which said conduit descends and is connected to the second mentioned container for communication with the condensing chamber and through which the gas to be condensed enters said chamber, and means for conveying the resultant condensate from said chamber.

'15. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for 'aV body of cooling fluid, a container disposed therein and through which a cooling fluid is adapted to flow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the the walls of the two containers constituting a condensing chamber, a conduit entering and coiled within the enclosure and connected to the second mentioned container for communication with' the condensing chamber and throughy which the gas to be condensed enters said chamber, and means for conveying the resultant condensate from said chamber.

16. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for a body of cooling fluid, a container disposed therein and through which a cooling fluid is adapted to flow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting a condensing chamber, a conduit 'entering and coiled Within the enclosureand gradually ascending therein to a point from. which it extends downwardly and is connected to the second mentioned container for communication with the condensing chamber and through which the gas to be condensed enters said chamber, and means for conveying the resultant condensate from the condensing chamber.

17. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for a body of cooling fluid, a container disposed therein, inlet and outlet means connected with said container, one of said means consisting of a conduit that is coiled within thev enclosure for submergence in the body of cooling fluid, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space betweenthe walls of the two containers constituting a condensing chamber, and means for delivering to said chamber the gas to be condensed and for conveying therefrom the resultant condensate.

18. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for la body of cooling fluid, a container disposed therein and through which a cooling fluid is adapted to flow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the two containers constitutinga condensing chamber,

`- adapted to flow, a second container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned contamer, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting a condensing chamber, a blow-off' device communicating with the condensing chamber andI arranged for submergence in the body of the cooling fluid, and means for delivering to the condensing Achamber the as to be condensed and for conveying there rom the resultant condensate.

20. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class setforth, the same comrising, in combination, an enclosure for a ody of cooling fluid having a filling opening, a closure for said opening that is adapted to be displaced by pressure within the enclosure, a conductive system for the gas and its condensate disposed within the enclosure, and a blow-oil' device communicating with said system and arranged for submergence in the body of cooling fluid.

2l. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure .for a body of cooling fluid, a spherical container disposed therein and through which a cooling fluid is adapted to flow, a second spherical container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the lspace between the walls of the two containers constituting a condensing chamber, and means for delivering to said chamber the gas to be condensed and for conveying therefrom the resultant condensate.

22. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising, in combination, an enclosure for a body of cooling fluid, a spherical container disposed therein and through which a cooling fluid is adapted to flow, a second spherical container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the two containers constituting a condensing chamber, a conduit entering and coiled within the enclosure and connected to the top portion of the second container for communication with the condensing chamber and through which the gas to be condensed enters said chamber, and means connected to the bottom portion of the second container for communicating with the condensing chamber for conveying therefrom the condensate. c

23. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the class set forth, the same comrising, in combination, an enclosure for a 'ody of cooling fluid, a spherical container disposed therein, an inlet'conduit entering the enclosure and connected to the lower portion of said container, an outlet conduit connected to the upper portion of said container,. and coiled within the enclosure and passing out of the same and so arranged that the coiled portion of said conduit is submerged withinthe body of cooling fluid, a second spherical container surrounding and spaced from the first mentioned container, the space between the walls of the containers constituting a condensing chamber, and means for delivering to said chamber the gas to be condensed and for conveying therefrom the resultant condensate.

f 24. A condenser for use in refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption class, said condenser comprising a casing adapted to surmount the cabinet of the apparatus and having a bottom wall spaced above the plane occupied by the top of the cabinet, said casing being adapted to contain a body of coolin fluid, a conducting and condensing system w1thin the container'for' submergence in the body of cooling fluid, a conduit adapted for connection with the generator-absorber of the apparatus and connected to the inlet lof said system, and a conduit leading from the outlet of said system beneath the bottom wall of the container and arranged for communicative connection withy the evaporator of the apparatus, the Space beneath the bottom wall of the casing affording accommodations for communicative connections between the evaporator and the generator-absorber.

25. A condenser for use in apparatus of the class set forth, the same comprising a casing adapted to surmount the cabinet of the a paratus and having a bottom wall spaced a ove the plane occupied by the top of the cabinet, a conduit extending laterally beneath the bottom wall ofthe casing and beyond the peripheral wall thereof, and a conducting and condensing system within the casing and incorporating an outlet conduit that passes through the peripheral wall of the casing and signature.

LEE S. CHADWICK. 

